Several years ago, my family and I decided to pursue minimalism. Since then, we have tried to remove all of the possessions from our home that are not essential. In doing so, we have found new opportunity to spend our time, energy, and finances on the things that are most important to us.
Also, we became far more observant about how our things rob us of our precious freedom. We have learned that just like most families, no matter how hard we try to stop it, stuff inevitably continues to enter our home… nearly every single day.
So we work hard to remove any clutter that begins to accumulate in our home. Along the way, we have picked up (and try to practice) some helpful clutter busting routines to help those who are just getting started with minimalist living.
Here are 15 Clutter Busting Routines we have found helpful in our home:
1. Place junk mail immediately into a recycling bin. Take note of the natural flow of mail into your home. Placing a recycling container prior to your “mail drop-off zone” can catch most of that junk mail before it even reaches your counter. And as an added bonus, you’ll begin to look through less of it too (think advertisements).
2. Store kitchen appliances out of sight. Toasters, can openers, coffee makers… they all take up space. And while it may not seem like much space by looking at them, the first time you prepare dinner on a counter without them present, you’ll quickly notice the difference when you have a minimalist kitchen. If you think it’s going to be a hassle putting them away every morning, don’t. It takes less than 6 seconds to put each appliance away… once you’ve found a home for it that is.
3. Remove 10 articles of clothing from your closet today. Go ahead. If you are typical, it’ll take you roughly 5 minutes to grab 10 articles of clothing that you no longer wear and throw them in a box. Your remaining clothes will fit better in your closet. Your closet will be able to breathe again. And if you write “Goodwill” on the box when you are done, you’ll feel better about yourself as soon as you drop it off. Most likely, you’ll find yourself inspired to do it again.
4. Fold clean clothes / Remove dirty clothes immediately. The way I handle clothes these days is one of the biggest clutter changes I have made in my life. Unfortunately, I used to be a “throw-them-on-the-floor” guy. But now I handle each one right when I take it off. Dirty clothes down the clothes chute. Clean clothes back to the hanger or drawer. That’s it. It’s really that simple. How do the dirty ones magically appear clean and folded in my closet you ask… I’m not sure. You’ll need to ask my wife.
5. Kids’ bedroom toys live in the closet. Not on the floor. Not on the dresser. But in the closet. And when the closet gets too full of toys, it’s time to make some room. Hint, it’s usually safe to remove the toys at the bottom of the pile.
6. Kids pick up their toys each evening. This has countless benefits: 1) It teaches responsibility. 2) It helps kids realize that more isn’t always better. 3) The home is clean for mom and dad when the kids are in bed. 4) It’s a clear indication that the day has come to an end. Gosh, you’d think with all these benefits it would be easier for us to get the kids to do it…
7. Fill your containers for the garbage man. Use every trash pick-up day as an excuse to fill your recycling containers and/or garbage cans. Grab a box of old junk from the attic… old toys from the toy room… old food from the pantry… old paperwork from the office. If once a week is too often, do this exercise every other week. You’ll get the hang of it. And may even begin to enjoy trash morning… okay, I won’t go that far.
8. Halve decorations. No seriously, I mean it. Grab a box and walk through your living room. Remove decorations from shelves, tables, and walls that aren’t absolutely beautiful or meaningful. You may like it better than you think. If not, you can always put them back. But I’d bet my wife’s old high school yearbooks that you won’t return all of them.
9. Wash dishes right away. Hand washing some dishes takes less time than putting them in the dishwasher. This applies to cups, breakfast bowls, dinner plates, and silverware. If hand washed right after eating, it takes hardly any time at all. If however, hand washing is just not an option for you, be sure to put used dishes in the dishwasher right away. Nobody likes walking into a kitchen with dishes piled up in the sink or on the counter… and it’s even less fun eating in there. Practice kitchen counter organization to have a clutter-free countertop.
10. Unmix and match cups, bowls, plates, and silverware. Uniformity makes for better stacking, storing, and accessing. If there is a souvenir cup or mug that is so important to you that you can’t live without it, that’s perfectly fine. Just don’t keep 5 of them. Mom, any chance you are reading this?
11. Keep your desk clear, clean, and minimalistic. Drawers can adequately house most of the things needed to keep your desk functional. And a simple filing system should keep it clear of paper clutter. The next person who sits down to use the desk will thank you.
12. Store your media out of sight. Make a home for dvd’s, cd’s, video games, and remote controls. They don’t need to be in eyesight, you use them less than you think. And if you remove them from your eyesight… maybe you’ll use them even less.
13. Always leave room in your coat closet. There are two reasons why coats, shoes, and outerwear keep ending up scattered throughout your home rather than in your closet. The first reason is because your coat closet is so full, it’s a hassle to put things away and retrieve them quickly. Leave room on the floor, on the hangers, and on the shelves for used items to be quickly put away and retrieved. The second reason is because you have kids… but you’re on your own with that one.
14. Keep flat surfaces clear. Kitchen counters, bathroom counters, bedroom dressers, tabletops… After you clear them the first time, keeping them clean takes daily effort. Receipts, coins, and paper clutter just keep coming and coming… it’s just easier the second time around.
15. Finish a magazine or newspaper. Process or recycle immediately. If you’ve finished the paper product, process it and rid yourself of its clutter immediately. Good recipe in there? Put it in your recipe box and recycle the rest. Good article that your husband will enjoy? Clip it and recycle. Article that your friend will enjoy? Clip it, mail it, and recycle (or better yet, search for it online and send it that way). Coupon too good to pass up? Cut it out and recycle. Stacks of magazines and newspapers serve little purpose in life but to clutter a room.
Sarah says
This is a great list. I found the best way to reduce desk clutter was to use a smaller desk! We had this huge, vintage, solid wood desk and it had a large flat surface. It got cluttered pretty quickly because there was so much space on it to clutter! We switched it out for a much smaller desk and now I can’t find anywhere to put clutter on because the space it just not there. Hooray!
I’ll admit I have a problem with getting rid of magazines. Especially my Mother Earth News magazines. I really don’t look at them as magazines, but mini books of wisdom. *sigh* I have no idea how to overcome this, but I’m willing to try. I have gotten rid of a lot of cooking magazines by cutting out the recipes I want and sticking them in sleeves in a binder. :-)
Jan'et says
I have a problem with those old Mother Earth News magazines also. I have two boxes of them that are so full of good reference material, that I made a place in a seldom used closet in the office for them. I believe M.E.N. now has all of their publications available on a CD but until I can get my hands on it, those old mags will have a place in my home.
Sonoma Simplified says
One trick I rely on time and again is the “buy one, dump two” method. Before I buy ANYTHING (except food, gas and bus tickets!) I immediately challenge myself to decide which two precious possessions are getting kicked to the curb. This makes me take stock of how important this item is before I even bring it home. And no cheating. I can’t look at a luscious pair of boots and decide to throw out the two hunks of furry cheese in the fridge. Two items of equal or lesser value only!
K. Fisher says
I wrote down every tip and posted it on the fridge. I need a visual to keep me on track. I also like to add I have reduced the amount of clutter by getting ride of knick knack stuff that is on your tables, coffee tables, end tables. Also what works well in my house is hang up all your pictures and keep it to a minium for each room. My room looks better clutter free, and cleaning is a cinch.
Denise Johnson says
Love it! This entire article to me seems like a no-brainer, but I quickly forwarded it on to about 15 people who need it :) Since I’ve embraced minimalism, I have tried very hard to share my beliefs with others without expecting them to change for me. This includes my hubby – who, I might add, ‘suggested’ this weekend that I help him ‘weed out’ his closet. Ahhh…living by example does work!
Pamela says
Lily — I have a little sentimentalist at my house that has the same problem. Recently we had an “aha!” moment that may help you as well. Her big sister used the phrase “I’m ready to let go of ‘x'”. I thought that was a great way to say it, as opposed to “get rid of”, “sell”, or “donate”. So, I tried it with little sis – lo and behold she was ready to “let go” of some things! For whatever reason, that phrase helped her part with a few things.
Nicki Savantes says
Great reminders, thanks Joshua! And wow that you did this in just three years! I’ve been clearing clutter for 10 and I still haven’t worked through everything!!
@Lily
My son is like that. But the closets in his room are not unlimited. The rule for his room is “everything has to fit” (in the storage containers and drawers). If it doesn’t something has to go. He gleefully packs bagfuls of old toys in anticipation of his birthday, at other times it’s still fairly hard to let go of things… (He’s 4).
We have a “limited number of items gallery”: when new art is created the oldest pieces go (they can be sent to doting grandparents!). Often drawings cut up into little squares and stuck on cardboard make excellent Xmas cards, party invitations or birthday cards)…
For older kids you can propose taking pictures of things before they are discarded. Those so inclined can make a scrapbook or stick the picture in their journal and write about it…
Lily says
This is FANTASTIC. I am going to frame it and hang it somewhere prominent where i can reference it on a daily basis until we have gone through every single box/bag/book/photoalbum in our entire house. I am getting a real good look at just how TOO much stuff we have as we are forced to see every last bit while packing it up. So many times i look at the pile and just groan.
How do you help kids learn these lessons? I am a slow learner at this as it is and it is so hard when kids are emotionally attached to every little piece of crap they bring home from a birthday party or everything they have ever created. UGH.
Clare says
I could sometimes negotiate with my kids about stuff they’ve created by taking a photo of it that they could keep if we really didn’t need to keep the original hanging about the house. We’ve done that with some of our own sentimental-value stuff as well, when there’s really no reason to keep the actual object, it’s the memories that are important and often a photo is just as good for keeping memories.
Ruth H says
I’ve taken photos too. It really helps to let some things go. My 6yr old son is often happy to let more things, especially ‘creative projects’ go when I take a photo of it.
“it’s the memories that are important and often a photo is just as good for keeping memories.” this is so true Clare!
Penny says
I solve the problem by letting the kids choose.
Each child has a display space – my twins each have a pin board and shelf above their beds. Anything they want to display goes there, with something removed (to a plastic storage bin) to create the necessary space. Once a month, one item from the bin is kept, and the rest recycled. The kept items go into A3 size memory books, which will become theirs on their 21st birthday. The girls choose what to keep, though I also add a few bits and pieces of my choosing – mostly photos – and there is a box each for the 3D items. Our memory books are actually A3 size plastic ring binder pockets in zip up binder covers, as used by artists for their folio of work.
Caroline McGraw says
Practical and relevant – esp. for those living in small spaces. We live in a studio apt – if we didn’t keep most flat surfaces clear, I think we’d go crazy.
Now, if only I could get my husband to get behind the ‘wash dishes right away’ concept… ;)
Montreal SEO Expert says
My wife use to buy a lot of items and clutter the house. I had to train her to stop. Now everything is fine. :)
Maria says
Wow, how does your wife feel being seen as something to be trained, like a child or a dog?
Keira says
I used to donate my items to Goodwill all the time, but with the economy being the way it is, I started selling on Craigslist instead. Two boxes of clothing I’d normally donate netted me $100. A lot of people who read minimalist blogs are trying to save money, so I thought I’d throw that idea out there.